US8393476B2 - Automatic gelatin capsule sorting machine - Google Patents
Automatic gelatin capsule sorting machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US8393476B2 US8393476B2 US13/060,806 US200813060806A US8393476B2 US 8393476 B2 US8393476 B2 US 8393476B2 US 200813060806 A US200813060806 A US 200813060806A US 8393476 B2 US8393476 B2 US 8393476B2
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- gelatin capsules
- gelatin capsule
- selection disk
- retaining plate
- openings
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related, expires
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61J—CONTAINERS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR MEDICAL OR PHARMACEUTICAL PURPOSES; DEVICES OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR BRINGING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS INTO PARTICULAR PHYSICAL OR ADMINISTERING FORMS; DEVICES FOR ADMINISTERING FOOD OR MEDICINES ORALLY; BABY COMFORTERS; DEVICES FOR RECEIVING SPITTLE
- A61J3/00—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms
- A61J3/07—Devices or methods specially adapted for bringing pharmaceutical products into particular physical or administering forms into the form of capsules or similar small containers for oral use
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07B—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS BY SIEVING, SCREENING, SIFTING OR BY USING GAS CURRENTS; SEPARATING BY OTHER DRY METHODS APPLICABLE TO BULK MATERIAL, e.g. LOOSE ARTICLES FIT TO BE HANDLED LIKE BULK MATERIAL
- B07B4/00—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents
- B07B4/02—Separating solids from solids by subjecting their mixture to gas currents while the mixtures fall
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a machine for the automated sorting of defective gelatin capsules according to their diameter and weight.
- the machine can be used on the empty gelatin capsules production machines after partial closing, as well as at the inlet and outlet of the machines filling these gelatin capsules. This machine allows automatic selection and rejection of gelatin capsules showing the following defects:
- a first example of such a device is made of several sieves arranged for forming a cylinder with a horizontal axis. Each sieve has several openings calibrated at a diameter slightly larger, by some hundredths of a millimeter, than that of the gelatin capsules.
- Another machine uses a blowing device to eject the empty (non dosed) or single parts (separated caps and bodies).
- the disadvantage of this system is that it does not process the gelatin capsules individually.
- the gelatin capsules are processed in clusters and, quite often, the defective parts cannot be expelled because they are drawn along by the other gelatin capsules.
- gelatin capsules having a diameter larger than that of a conforming gelatin capsule are retained on the upper surface of the disk and evacuated by vacuum means.
- the device according to the invention integrates the two functions of selection (telescoped gelatin capsules and empty, lowly dosed and single gelatin capsules) while remedying the various existing disadvantages mentioned previously.
- the machine is made of a sieve having the form of a selection disk with or without a rim, its axis is inclined by about twenty degrees with respect to the vertical.
- the frame of the machine serves as a rim in order to contain the gelatin capsules.
- Calibrated openings adapted to the format of the gelatin capsules to be sorted are drilled at the periphery of this disk.
- Each opening is made of the three following sections: a conical inlet to facilitate the tipping over and the introduction of the gelatin capsules, a calibrated section with a diameter larger, by some hundredths of a millimeter, than that of the shape of the gelatin capsule and a section with a larger diameter that facilitates the descent of the conforming gelatin capsules.
- the opening may contain several superimposed gelatin capsules.
- gelatin capsules to be sorted enter the machine continuously through an inlet chute and fall in the lower part of the selection disk, which is driven in rotation by the driving shaft. They enter the calibrated openings and are conveyed towards the upper section of the device.
- overflow In case of excessive supply (missing disk sorting capacity or selection disk stoppage), the excess of gelatin capsules overflow into a specific container (called “overflow”).
- the height of the rim and the inclination angle of the disk are defined to prevent the gelatin capsules from covering the entirety of its surface, grouping them in the lower section.
- a flexible scraper device helps the introduction of the gelatin capsules into the openings of the selection disk.
- a fixed plate located underneath the sieve obstructs the outlet of the openings, forcing the gelatin capsules to remain superimposed vertically in them.
- a passage hole is drilled in the retaining plate in the alignment of the selection disk openings in its upper section.
- gelatin capsules with an assembly defect remain trapped in the calibrated selection disk openings. After an additional rotation of a quarter turn, these gelatin capsules pass above the “automatic telescoped gelatin capsules ejection blowing” nozzle and are ejected upwards, via a chute, into a specific reject container. (called “assembly defects container”).
- This blowing also ensures automatic cleaning of the calibrated selection disk openings.
- the selection disk includes only one row of calibrated openings.
- the openings are distributed in two staggered rows. The drilling angle of the openings is carried out in such a way that the outlets of the openings of both rows end on a same or almost same diameter of the disk.
- the empty gelatin capsules expulsion blowing curtain and the retaining plate are not required.
- FIG. 1 represents the selection disk seen from the bottom.
- FIG. 2 represents the selection disk on its axis according to section line 2 - 2 of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 3 represents the selection disk, vertically above the telescoped gelatin capsules ejection nozzle.
- FIG. 4 represents the selection disk seen from the top.
- the sorting machine is made of a selection disk 1 placed on a drive shaft 2 .
- This set is inclined by about twenty degrees to force the gelatin capsules to remain in the lower section of the disk.
- the gelatin capsules slide in the inlet chute and fall in the lower section of the selection disk (on the left side on FIG. 2 ).
- the drive shaft makes the selection disk rotate.
- the gelatin capsules enter into the calibrated openings that are drilled at the periphery of the disk.
- the inclination of the disk and the flexible scraper device 3 help the introduction of the gelatin capsules in the openings.
- the height of the rim is defined so as to prevent the gelatin capsules, yet to be sorted, from covering the entirety of the disk.
- overflow container In case of excessive supply or selection disk stoppage, the excess of gelatin capsules flows over in a specific container (called “overflow container”).
- Each opening of selection disk 1 is made as follows: a conical inlet to facilitate the tipping over and the introduction of the gelatin capsules, a calibrated section with a diameter larger by some hundredths of a millimeter than that of the gelatin capsule.
- the opening ends having a section with a larger diameter facilitates the passage of the conforming gelatin capsules.
- the opening has a length that is sufficient to contain several superposed gelatin capsules.
- the openings are distributed on two staggered rows (see FIG. 4 ).
- the drilling angle of the openings is carried out in such a way that the outlets of the openings of both rows end on a same or almost same diameter of the disk ( FIG. 1 ).
- the selection disk will comprise only one row of calibrated openings drilled perpendicularly to the surface of the disk.
- the gelatin capsules accommodated in the openings are stopped by retaining plate 4 (left section of FIG. 2 ) and move upwards to the upper position thanks to the rotation of the selection disk. After half a revolution, a passage hole is drilled in the retaining plate to allow for the evacuation of the gelatin capsules (right section of FIG. 2 ).
- the gelatin capsules with a conforming diameter pass through the calibrated opening. While falling, they pass in front of the “empty gelatin capsules expulsion blowing” curtain 5 .
- the empty, lowly dosed gelatin capsules and the single parts (separated gelatin capsule caps and bodies) are deflected by the blowing curtain into a specific reject container (called “dosing defects container”).
- the heavier conforming gelatin capsules are not deflected and fall in the conforming gelatin capsules outlet chute.
- the gelatin capsules with an assembly defect remain trapped in the calibrated openings. After an additional selection disk rotation of a quarter turn ( FIG. 3 ), the trapped gelatin capsules pass above the automatic telescoped gelatin capsules ejection blowing nozzle 6 and are ejected upwards, via a chute 7 , in a specific reject container (called “assembly defects container”).
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Medicinal Chemistry (AREA)
- Pharmacology & Pharmacy (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
- Medical Preparation Storing Or Oral Administration Devices (AREA)
- Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
- Combined Means For Separation Of Solids (AREA)
Abstract
Description
-
- Assembly defect characterized by a pinch or a tear between both of the parts, cap and body, that make up the gelatin capsule.
- These gelatin capsules will be called telescoped gelatin capsules. Dosing defect of the gelatin capsule, such as empty or lowly dosed gelatin capsules.
- Single parts, i. e. separated caps and bodies.
-
- The ejection of the defects requires a manual intervention of the operator and a complete stoppage of the production machine.
- The continuous stirring of the rejects can lead to the passage of a defect through the selection opening.
- During a longer operation time, product residues tend to reduce the passage diameter of the calibrated openings, requiring a manual intervention for the cleaning.
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/FR2008/001235 WO2010026300A1 (en) | 2008-09-05 | 2008-09-05 | Automatic gelatin capsule sorting machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110147280A1 US20110147280A1 (en) | 2011-06-23 |
US8393476B2 true US8393476B2 (en) | 2013-03-12 |
Family
ID=40637789
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US13/060,806 Expired - Fee Related US8393476B2 (en) | 2008-09-05 | 2008-09-05 | Automatic gelatin capsule sorting machine |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US8393476B2 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2331044B1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2012501824A (en) |
AT (1) | ATE549010T1 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2383257T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2010026300A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CA2905790C (en) | 2013-03-15 | 2021-10-19 | Altria Client Services Llc | Method and machine for making uniform products |
CN105032777B (en) * | 2015-06-15 | 2017-12-08 | 无锡传奇科技有限公司 | A kind of soft capsule detection machine |
CN105032768A (en) * | 2015-06-17 | 2015-11-11 | 浙江越溪胶丸有限公司 | Empty capsule dual-effect removing machine |
CN105057216A (en) * | 2015-08-10 | 2015-11-18 | 苏州速腾电子科技有限公司 | Material picking device |
CN105170477A (en) * | 2015-09-18 | 2015-12-23 | 盛浩洋 | Novel sorting machine for defective capsules |
CN108057619B (en) * | 2017-12-26 | 2020-08-14 | 浙江康乐胶囊有限公司 | Capsule screening installation |
CN108672264B (en) * | 2018-04-24 | 2021-03-02 | 泉州智慧果技术服务有限公司 | Particle size defect capsule selection shell drug separation mechanism |
CN109276452B (en) * | 2018-09-27 | 2021-01-12 | 冉勇 | Preparation equipment of medicine capsule |
JP7486887B2 (en) * | 2020-01-08 | 2024-05-20 | 三光機械株式会社 | Filling supply device |
CN111856055A (en) * | 2020-07-27 | 2020-10-30 | 长沙开元仪器有限公司 | Feeding mechanism |
CN111889386B (en) * | 2020-08-22 | 2025-07-01 | 诸暨恒路机械有限公司 | A chain piece automatic detection and feeding module |
CN112934736B (en) * | 2021-03-04 | 2023-12-22 | 贵州汇正制药有限责任公司 | Can avoid secondary pollution's high-efficient capsule sorting device |
CN113118052B (en) * | 2021-03-15 | 2022-10-14 | 秦皇岛大恩药业有限公司 | Sorting machine for selecting and eliminating defective capsule shells in finished capsules |
CN113305010B (en) * | 2021-06-07 | 2022-05-03 | 广东工业大学 | Oranges and tangerines size sorting device |
CN113814172A (en) * | 2021-09-10 | 2021-12-21 | 张伟民 | Capsule classification device and method capable of rapidly classifying capsules according to sizes and shells |
CN114589102B (en) * | 2022-03-01 | 2022-12-20 | 安徽乐然堂药业有限公司 | Production of glossy ganoderma longevity capsule is with high-efficient sorter that detects |
Citations (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US691876A (en) * | 1899-11-13 | 1902-01-28 | Charles H Scott | Separator. |
US1701641A (en) * | 1926-10-30 | 1929-02-12 | Western Electric Co | Article-sorting apparatus |
US2646912A (en) * | 1950-03-23 | 1953-07-28 | Reveno Robert | Apparatus for and method of filling capsules |
US3070932A (en) * | 1959-10-27 | 1963-01-01 | Hoefliger & Karg | Apparatus for filling and sealing the cartridges of two-piece capsules and the like |
US3997058A (en) | 1976-01-29 | 1976-12-14 | Smithkline Corporation | Capsule inspection machine |
EP0518058A1 (en) | 1991-06-12 | 1992-12-16 | I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.p.A. | Apparatus for sorting hard gelatine capsules |
US5661249A (en) * | 1994-08-11 | 1997-08-26 | Walter Grassle Gmbh | Apparatus and method for inspecting small articles |
US5772045A (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 1998-06-30 | Macofar S.P.A. | Selector for badly-filled capsules |
US6189676B1 (en) | 1998-05-04 | 2001-02-20 | Mg2 S.P.A | Orienting assembly for orienting top or bottom shells of medicinal capsules, and relative supply and orienting unit |
DE10027008A1 (en) | 2000-05-31 | 2001-12-06 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Dosing device especially for pharmaceutical products has rotational axis of drum inclined in relation to vertical so that product during rotation of drum, apart from in dosing holes, accumulates in feed area |
US6739455B2 (en) * | 1999-02-03 | 2004-05-25 | Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd | Defective capsule removing mechanism |
US6741731B1 (en) * | 1999-07-23 | 2004-05-25 | Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd. | Side surface inspecting apparatus for tablet, front and back surface inspecting apparatus for tablet, and tablet appearance inspecting apparatus using the same |
US7082738B2 (en) * | 2002-07-05 | 2006-08-01 | Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd. | Capsule-filling and sealing apparatus |
WO2007012966A1 (en) | 2005-07-28 | 2007-02-01 | I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. | Intermittent motion capsule filling machine |
US20120207272A1 (en) * | 2009-10-19 | 2012-08-16 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Sensor device for a packaging machine designed as a capsule filling and sealing machine or for a capsule control device |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JPS5339622B2 (en) * | 1973-05-21 | 1978-10-23 | ||
JPS6049039B2 (en) * | 1980-11-29 | 1985-10-30 | 富士電機株式会社 | Capsule transport device |
DE4221107A1 (en) * | 1992-06-26 | 1994-01-05 | Scherer Gmbh R P | Method and device for sorting capsules |
JPH1057894A (en) * | 1996-08-13 | 1998-03-03 | Nippon Spindle Mfg Co Ltd | Screw type selector |
-
2008
- 2008-09-05 AT AT08875611T patent/ATE549010T1/en active
- 2008-09-05 WO PCT/FR2008/001235 patent/WO2010026300A1/en active Application Filing
- 2008-09-05 JP JP2011525585A patent/JP2012501824A/en active Pending
- 2008-09-05 US US13/060,806 patent/US8393476B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2008-09-05 ES ES08875611T patent/ES2383257T3/en active Active
- 2008-09-05 EP EP08875611A patent/EP2331044B1/en not_active Not-in-force
Patent Citations (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US691876A (en) * | 1899-11-13 | 1902-01-28 | Charles H Scott | Separator. |
US1701641A (en) * | 1926-10-30 | 1929-02-12 | Western Electric Co | Article-sorting apparatus |
US2646912A (en) * | 1950-03-23 | 1953-07-28 | Reveno Robert | Apparatus for and method of filling capsules |
US3070932A (en) * | 1959-10-27 | 1963-01-01 | Hoefliger & Karg | Apparatus for filling and sealing the cartridges of two-piece capsules and the like |
US3997058A (en) | 1976-01-29 | 1976-12-14 | Smithkline Corporation | Capsule inspection machine |
EP0518058A1 (en) | 1991-06-12 | 1992-12-16 | I.M.A. INDUSTRIA MACCHINE AUTOMATICHE S.p.A. | Apparatus for sorting hard gelatine capsules |
US5661249A (en) * | 1994-08-11 | 1997-08-26 | Walter Grassle Gmbh | Apparatus and method for inspecting small articles |
US5772045A (en) * | 1995-02-16 | 1998-06-30 | Macofar S.P.A. | Selector for badly-filled capsules |
US6189676B1 (en) | 1998-05-04 | 2001-02-20 | Mg2 S.P.A | Orienting assembly for orienting top or bottom shells of medicinal capsules, and relative supply and orienting unit |
US6739455B2 (en) * | 1999-02-03 | 2004-05-25 | Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd | Defective capsule removing mechanism |
US6741731B1 (en) * | 1999-07-23 | 2004-05-25 | Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd. | Side surface inspecting apparatus for tablet, front and back surface inspecting apparatus for tablet, and tablet appearance inspecting apparatus using the same |
DE10027008A1 (en) | 2000-05-31 | 2001-12-06 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Dosing device especially for pharmaceutical products has rotational axis of drum inclined in relation to vertical so that product during rotation of drum, apart from in dosing holes, accumulates in feed area |
US6435230B2 (en) | 2000-05-31 | 2002-08-20 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Metering device |
US7082738B2 (en) * | 2002-07-05 | 2006-08-01 | Shionogi Qualicaps Co., Ltd. | Capsule-filling and sealing apparatus |
WO2007012966A1 (en) | 2005-07-28 | 2007-02-01 | I.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A. | Intermittent motion capsule filling machine |
US20120207272A1 (en) * | 2009-10-19 | 2012-08-16 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Sensor device for a packaging machine designed as a capsule filling and sealing machine or for a capsule control device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20110147280A1 (en) | 2011-06-23 |
EP2331044B1 (en) | 2012-03-14 |
WO2010026300A1 (en) | 2010-03-11 |
ES2383257T3 (en) | 2012-06-19 |
JP2012501824A (en) | 2012-01-26 |
ATE549010T1 (en) | 2012-03-15 |
EP2331044A1 (en) | 2011-06-15 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US8393476B2 (en) | Automatic gelatin capsule sorting machine | |
US8220657B2 (en) | Unit for filling containers with products in particular pharmaceutical products | |
US3997058A (en) | Capsule inspection machine | |
US20090044495A1 (en) | Packaging Apparatus for Handling Pills and Associated Method | |
CN1970173A (en) | Automated system and method for cotton seed refining | |
US3715057A (en) | Apparatus for separating and/or counting individual elements of a plurality | |
CN205010912U (en) | Full -automatic medicine liquid filling machine with device is covered to automatic reason | |
CN108686968B (en) | Weight defect capsule selection shell and medicine separation mechanism and detection selection shell and medicine separation method | |
CN114950967B (en) | Chinese herbal medicine weighing, screening and feeding device | |
US20090094947A1 (en) | Packaging Apparatus for Handling Pills and Associated Method | |
CN205673164U (en) | A kind of plane tea circular screening machine | |
CN109963654B (en) | mill | |
KR101676167B1 (en) | A bean sorting device having multiplr cleaning means | |
JP7223039B2 (en) | Discharge chute of tablet press and method of sorting pellets after being produced in tablet press | |
CN105880145B (en) | A kind of full automatic capsule screening machine | |
CN215622823U (en) | Multi-track particle counting device | |
USRE29393E (en) | Apparatus for separating and/or counting individual elements of a plurality | |
CN218705995U (en) | Intercepting and sampling device of capsule tablet sampling scale | |
CN207238423U (en) | Feeding screening plant | |
CN109954686A (en) | A kind of automatic centering and coring machine and method thereof | |
KR200453178Y1 (en) | Grain Sorter | |
CN113714146A (en) | Intelligent color sorting method and equipment for traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces | |
CN209751677U (en) | Discharge mechanism of capsule filling machine | |
CN221657123U (en) | Tea color selection device convenient for material separation | |
CN219985357U (en) | Seed production is with smart sub-device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SOLDOPHA S.A.R.L., FRANCE Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:VICHERAT, ROLAND;REEL/FRAME:025938/0268 Effective date: 20110128 |
|
STCF | Information on status: patent grant |
Free format text: PATENTED CASE |
|
FPAY | Fee payment |
Year of fee payment: 4 |
|
MAFP | Maintenance fee payment |
Free format text: PAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEE, 8TH YR, SMALL ENTITY (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: M2552); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY Year of fee payment: 8 |
|
FEPP | Fee payment procedure |
Free format text: MAINTENANCE FEE REMINDER MAILED (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: REM.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
LAPS | Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED FOR FAILURE TO PAY MAINTENANCE FEES (ORIGINAL EVENT CODE: EXP.); ENTITY STATUS OF PATENT OWNER: SMALL ENTITY |
|
STCH | Information on status: patent discontinuation |
Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362 |
|
FP | Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee |
Effective date: 20250312 |